Fifth-wheel



J. WMPACH.v

Fifth-Wheel.

Patented Jan. 20, 18'80.

INVENTOR ffw//I/ BY" A WITNBSSES ATTORNEYS.

n PETERS. PHOTOMTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D4 c,

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WAMPAOH, OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 223,782, dated January20, 1880.

` Application led November 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN WAMPAGH, ofShakopee, in the county ot` Scott and State of Minnesota, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Fifth-Wheel Vehicles, ot' which thefollowing is a sliiecication.

Figure l is a plan view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional sideelevation,

l taken through the line a' Fig. l. Fig. 3 is fo a sectional endelevation, taken through the line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish vehicles so constructed thattheir wheels may -pass over uneven surfaces without wrenching ortwisting the gearing.

A represents the bottom frame of a wagonbody, B the head-block, and C Dthe two parts zo ot' the fifth-wheel. The upper part, C, oftheiifth-wheel is welded, bolted, or riveted to a rod, E, placedlongitudinally with the length of the wagon, and the ends of which workin bearings in crossbars H, attached to the frame A. The lower part, D,of the iiithwheel is attached to the head-block B.

The king-bolt is made in two parts, F G.

The upper part, F, of the king-bolt is attached 4 to a bar ot the JframeA, and has a loop,f, 3o formed upon its lower end to receive the eye g,formed `upon the upper end of` the lower part, G, which is attached tothe head-block B. The eye and loop ot' the two parts F Gr of theking-bolt have holes formed through 3 5 them to receive the rod E, bywhich they are hinged together, so that the fifth-wheel may rock uponthe rod E.

By this construction, should one of the wheels pass over an obstructionor into a depression, the rocking of the fifth-wheel will prevent thegearing and body from being wrcnched or twisted. By this construction,also, the fifth-wheel C D will be between the two cross-bars H, so thata forward or back pressure upon the fifth-wheel will he supported by thesaid crossbars. The parts ot the crossbars H that come in contact withthe fthwheel O D have metal plates I attached to them, to prevent wear,and serve as hearings for the rod E. The parts O I) of the fifthwheelare held together and against the headblock B, so as to be rocked by andwith the said head-block by keepers J, through which the said partspass, and which are attached to the said head-block.

With this construction, should the kingbolt break the cross-bars H willreceive the drawing and holding-back'straim and the keepers J will keepthe fifth-wheel and the head-block in connection, so thatthe wagon canstill be used with safety.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination, with'a ftltwheel having rod E, ofthe king-holt, made in two parts, F G, pivoted together, the part Fattached to a bar of the traine A, and the part Gr attached to ahead-block, B, each ot' said parts having a hole to receive the rod E,as shown and de- 7o scribed.

JOHN WAMPAO H.

Witnesses:

NICOLAS HENoKEs, PIETER HENcKEs.

